About Town for Feb. 21-28

Children’s book author Artie Bennett will be speaking at noon Saturday, March 1, at Barnes and Noble, The Commons, 2134 Highway 35.

Bennett, author of the picture books “Poopendous!” and “The Butt Book,” will sign, discuss and read his new book, “Peter Panda Melts Down!” The book tells the story of Peter Panda, a 3-year-old, who is filled with frustration and apt to throw a tantrum when things don’t go his way.

The Monmouth County Park System wants to offer a couple the opportunity to win a wedding ceremony in Thompson Park.

Couples are invited to visit the Park System’s Facebook page (www.facebook.com/MonmouthCountyParkSystem) through March 31 to enter its “Say ‘I Do’ in the Parks” contest. All that’s required to enter is a photo of the couple – taken in a Monmouth County Park System park and a few sentences about themselves and how they met.
Then the public will get to vote from April 1-15.

The “Say ‘I Do’ in the Parks” contest winner will receive the use of Thompson Park as their wedding ceremony and photograph location (a $400 value). The winner will have their choice of having the ceremony outdoors or in the open air pavilion. A park system staff coordinator will also be available to assist with the ceremony site and to answer any questions the winner may have. This is a location prize only; ceremony necessities (i.e. chairs, flowers, decorations, etc.) are not included.

For full rules and details, please visit the park system’s Facebook page.

FAIR HAVEN

The Garden Club of Fair Haven is holding its monthly meeting at noon Wednesday, March 5, at the Fair Haven Community Center, Fisk Street.

The meeting will be a fundraiser, featuring an “I didn’t know I wanted it until I saw it” basket raffle. Members will serve lunch before the raffle drawing.

Meetings are held monthly on the first Wednesday of each month.

Anyone interested in learning more about horticulture, gardening and flower arranging, beautifying the town and serving the community to foster interest in gardening may contact Debbie Harris, membership chair, at 732-741-3506 or email to GCFHNJ.ORG.

RED BANK

Red Bank Parks and Recreation is cosponsoring a coed adult volleyball league, set to begin March 25.

Games will be played at Red Bank Middle School on Tuesday nights. People can sign up as part of a team or as an individual.

The league is open to Red Bank residents and nonresidents 21 and older. All ability levels are welcome as the emphasis is on having fun and meeting new people.

The deadline to register is March 22.

For more information on how to register as an individual or full team, contact league organizer Scott Cannon at 908-461-8946 or via email cannonsportnsocialclub@verizon.net.

WEST LONG BRANCH

Monmouth University’s Shadow PR Firm and Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) chapter is organizing the first flash mob at the university at 7 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 22, in the Multipurpose Activity Center (MAC) during the men’s basketball game.

Members of the chapter are working cooperatively with the dance team, cheerleading team, Monmouth Mob, student activities board (SAB), students, faculty and staff to effectively execute the performance during one of the timeouts.

The flash mob will strive to raise awareness and support of PRSSA’s client, The Valerie Fund (TVF). In addition, Monmouth University will retire the jersey of former football standout and current Dallas Cowboy Miles Austin during halftime at the basketball game against Saint Peter’s.

TVF is a non-profit organization that provides comprehensive health care to children with cancer and rare blood disorders. TVF reached out to PRSSA to help promote its NJ-headquartered organization.

In an effort to support this cause, PRSSA is sponsoring “Monmouth Hawks Dance Together,” a six-hour dance-a-thon at 6 p.m. Friday, April 4, in the Rebecca Stafford Student Center (RSSC).